File-case



(No Model.)

B. FOWLER.

FILE CASE. I No. 594,990. Patented Dec. 7, 1897. f

ATTORNEYJI- Tm: "cams PETERS co. vnoroumo. wnsumomu, o, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @E icE.

EDWIN FOWLER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

FILE-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,990, dated December 7, 1897.

Application filed March 20,1897.

To all whom it may concern:

vice of this class which is designed to serve as a correspondence-file, bill-file, and for other and similar purposes; and with this and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol.- lowing specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of myimproved filecase closed. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the file-case half opened with a portion removed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts of my improve} ment are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views.

In the practice of my invention I provide a file-casing whichis preferably composed of a strong heavy paper and which is formed from a blank comprising a front 5 and back 6, said front and back being similar in form and the back being provided at each end with folding end flaps 7, which are shown folded in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and one of which is partially shown folded in full lines in Fig. 3, and said back 6 being also provided at its outer or free edge with a folding flap 8, and in the use of the file-case the folding end flaps are preferably first folded over, after which the front 5 is folded over the back and end flaps 7, and the flap 8 on the back is then folded over said front.

The fold of the front 5 and the back 6 is preferably provided with or covered by a strip 9 of suitable textile material, so as to give strength thereto. Upon the upper or inner surface of the back 6 I provide one or more SerialNo. 628,461. (No model.)

or line of division between the front 5 and the back 6, as shown at 4 in Figs. 2 and 3. I also provide spring-clamps 10, consisting of hooks or jaws, which are preferably composed of doubled spring-wire, but may be stamped out or cut from suitable sheet metal, and one side ofthe clamps or jaws 10 is longer than the other, andsaid longer side is provided with a bend or arm 11, and at a suitable distance from said bend or arm are formed cars 17 and 18, the bend or arm 11 serving in the operation of the device as a pivot on which the clamps or jaws turn. The short end or side of each jaw is passed through the strips 15 and through the back 6 and through the strip 9, an eyelet of suitable material being preferably provided as a protection for said parts, and the ears 17 and 18 form ahead by which the clamp is retained in position.

The length of the ears 17 and 18 is formed greater than the shortest distance from the point where the clamp passes through the strip 15 to the fold 16 in said strip. The threefold purpose of the strip 15 is now apparentnamely, first, to form a reinforcement for the back at the point where the clamp passes through it; second, to form an obstruction by means of which the swing of the clamps or jaws 10 is limited, the ears 17 and 18 of the heads of the clamps by contact with the fold 16 of the strip 15 limiting the are through which the clamps 10 can swing and preventing the clamps from assuming an inconvenient position with reference to the case, whether the latter be opened or closed, and, third, to form a protection to the papers inclosed in the case against mutilation by the motion of the cars 17 and 18 of the clamps 10.

The clamps or jaws 10 are free to swing on their pivotal connection at 11 within the limits fixed by the relative length of the ears 17 and 18, which are so formed as to permit the end of the shorter arm to clear the fold of the case in the one extreme and to permit the loop 20 of the clamp to reach said fold at the other extreme, and in practice in order to close the file or to hold the back and front together the clamps are turned inward over the fold of the said back and front, as shown at the lower corner of Fig. 1, and when it is desired to open the file the clamps are swung outward, as shown at the upper corner of Fig. 1.

The end folds or flaps 7 of the back 6 are not absolutely essential, and this is also true of the fold 8 of said back. Again, similar clamps may be provided to hold said flap 8 closed over the front 5, and it is apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

My improved file-case is adapted for use in connection with 1etters,bills, and various other papers and documents, and it will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a device which is simple in construction and operation and which is well adapted to serve the purpose for which it is intended.

The clamps or jaws 10 need not necessarily be exactly circular, as shown, and the bend of said clamps or jaws may be triangular, if desired, and other forms may be provided.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent-- 1. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank,which is folded transversely to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with clamps which are pivotally connected with the back thereof, adjacent to the fold, and which are adapted to turn so as to hold the front and back together, substantially as shown and described.

2. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank which is folded transversely to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with clamps which are pivotally connected with the back thereof, adjacent to the fold and which are adapted to be turned so as to hold the front and back together, said back being provided with folding end flaps, substantially as shown and described.

3. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank,which is folded transversely to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with clamps which are pivotally connected with the back thereof, adjacent to the fold, and which are adapted to turn so as to hold the front and back together, said back being provided with folding end flaps, and with a folding side or front flap, substantially as shown and described.

4. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank, which is folded in the center to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with clamps which are pivotally connected with the back thereof, adjacent to the fold, and which are adapted to turn so as to hold the front and back together, said back being provided with folding end flaps, and with a folding side or front flap, said pivoted clamps being circular or segmental inform, substantially as shown and described.

5. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank which is folded in the center to form a front and a back, said casingbeingprovided with pivoted clamps, which are passed through the back adjacent to the fold and provided with cars, which limit the movement thereof, said ears operating in connection with said fold, substantially as shown and described.

6. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of ablank which is folded in the center to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with pivoted clamps, which are passed through the back adjacent to the fold and provided with ears, which limit the movement thereof, said ears operating in connection with said fold, and said back being also provided with strips which are secured thereto, and folded over said ears, substantially as shown and described.

7. A file-casing constructed as herein described, the same consisting of a blank which is folded to form a front and a back, said casing being provided with pivoted clamps which are passed through'the back adjacent to the fold and provided with ears, said back being also provided with strips which are secured thereto and folded over said ears, and said ears operating in connection with the fold in said strips to limit the motion of the clamps, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of March, 1897.

EDW'IN FOWLER.

Witnesses:

W. D. 0. SMITH, ROBERT G. BRODIE. 

